Abstract
Transmutation of the minor actinides (neptunium, plutonium, americium and curium) in either a fast reactor (FR) or a fast accelerator-driven system (ADS) is currently considered as one of the promising options. The current reference fuels for a European ADS-transmuter are oxides such as MOX, (Cm,Am,Pu)O2 diluted in MgO, ZrO2, and Mo matrices. In the framework of the number of EC projects and its own project MYRRHA, the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK•CEN started few years ago the studies on fuels for transmutation in ADS. To evaluate basic in-pile features of fuel design the full-scale fuel performance code MACROS has been developed and is currently used. This paper will show the main results of calculation of the in-pile behaviour of two inert matrix oxide fuels dedicated to transmutation of Am in a fast spectrum ADS performed with MACROS. The results of the modelling studies show that designs of the fuel/target rods considered in FUTURE and MYRRHA projects (European projects for ADS transmuters) are quite suitable for long term operation under representative ADS conditions.
| Original language | English |
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| Title of host publication | International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Research Applications and Utilization of Accelerators |
| Place of Publication | Vienna, Austria |
| Volume | 1 |
| State | Published - 8 May 2009 |
| Event | International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Research Applications and Utilization of Accelerators - Vienna Duration: 4 May 2009 → 8 May 2009 |
Conference
| Conference | International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Research Applications and Utilization of Accelerators |
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| Country/Territory | Austria |
| City | Vienna |
| Period | 2009-05-04 → 2009-05-08 |